Market Life Cycle Based Manufacturing Input Component Systems and Methods

Abstract

Efficient and effective life cycle manufacturing input control systems and methods are presented. In one embodiment, a life cycle manufacturing input control method comprises: accessing market life cycle information associated with an input component to a manufacturing process, performing a KPI process, wherein the KPI process produces a KPI score, and configuring utilization of an input component to a manufacturing process based upon the KPI score. The KPI process can include: determining life cycle stage of the input component, assigning a confidence factor to the life cycle stage; and establishing a KPI score in the manufacture of test equipment.

1 . A life cycle manufacturing input control method comprising:
 accessing input component market life cycle information associated with an input component to a manufacturing process;   performing a Key Performance Index (KPI) process, wherein the KPI process produces a KPI score based on the input component market life cycle information; and   configuring utilization of an input component in a manufacturing process based upon the KPI score.   
     
     
         2 . The life cycle manufacturing input control method of  claim 1 , wherein the manufacturing process comprises manufacture of test equipment. 
     
     
         3 . The life cycle manufacturing input control method of  claim 1 , wherein the KPI process comprises:
 determining life cycle stage of the input component;   assigning a confidence factor to the life cycle stage; and   establishing a KPI score.   
     
     
         4 . The life cycle manufacturing input control method of  claim 1 , wherein the input component market life cycle information comprises active production availability information. 
     
     
         5 . The life cycle manufacturing input control method of  claim 1 , wherein the input component market life cycle information comprises inactive production availability information. 
     
     
         6 . The life cycle manufacturing input control method of  claim 1 , wherein the input component market life cycle information comprises obsolescence information. 
     
     
         7 . The life cycle manufacturing input control method of  claim 1 , wherein stage features of the input component market life cycle information are analyzed. 
     
     
         8 . The life cycle manufacturing input control method of  claim 1 , wherein the input component market life cycle information comprises:
 an input component/product “Active” section comprising an Active-Widely Available stage, an Active-Limited Available stage, and an Active-Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) stage;   an input component/product “Inactive” section comprising an Inactive-Not Recommend for New Design stage, an Inactive-Last Time to Buy/Last Available stage, and Inactive-Last Time Buy MOQ stage; and   an input component/product “Obsolete” section comprising an Obsolete-Widely Available stage, an Obsolete-Limited Available stage, and an Obsolete-Limited Available stage.   
     
     
         9 . The life cycle manufacturing input control method of  claim 1 , wherein the KPI score is defined by:
   KPI Score= CF ×( P +α)× Q/CT  
   
       wherein CF is a confidence factor, P is a probability of obtaining an input part/component, α is a percentage of in-stock suppliers/distributors, Q is the quality of the bill of materials (BOM), C is the cost and T is the lead time. 
     
     
         10 . The life cycle manufacturing input control method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuring utilization of an input component in the manufacturing process comprises establishing a bill of material. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a memory configured to store instructions;   a processor coupled to the memory, wherein when the instructions are executed by the processor a life cycle manufacturing input control process is performed comprising:
 accessing input component market life cycle information associated with an input component to a manufacturing process; 
 performing a Key Performance Index (KPI) process, wherein the KPI process produces a KPI score; and 
 configuring utilization of an input component to a manufacturing process based upon the KPI score. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the manufacturing process comprises manufacture of test equipment. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the KPI process comprises:
 determining life cycle stage of the input component;   assigning a confidence factor to the life cycle stage; and   establishing a KPI   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the input component market life cycle information comprises active production availability information. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the input component market life cycle information comprises inactive production availability information. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the input component market life cycle information comprises obsolescence information. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein stage features of the input component market life cycle information is analyzed. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the configuring utilization of an input component to a manufacturing process comprises establishing a bill of material. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the KPI score is defined by: 
       
         
           
             
               
                 KPI 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 Score 
               
               = 
               
                 CF 
                 × 
                 
                   ( 
                   
                     P 
                     + 
                     α 
                   
                   ) 
                 
                 × 
                 Q 
                 / 
                 CT 
               
             
           
         
       
       wherein CF is a confidence factor, P is a probability of obtaining a part/component, α is a percentage of in-stock supplier/distributors, Q is the quality of the bill of materials (BOM), C is the cost, and T is the lead time. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the input component market life cycle information comprises:
 an input component/product “Active” section comprising an Active-Widely Available stage, an Active-Limited Available stage, and an Active-MOQ stage;   an input component/product “Inactive” section comprising an Inactive-Not Recommend for New Design stage, an Inactive-Last Time to Buy/Last Available stage, and Inactive-Last Time Buy MOQ stage; and   an input component/product “Obsolete” section comprising an Obsolete-Widely Available stage, an Obsolete-Limited Available stage, and an Obsolete-Limited Available stage.